Program Requirements
There are two separate pathways to the MSW degree. Students who have graduated from a CSWE accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program will follow the Advanced-Standing pathway, requiring 33 credits. There is also the option for an Entry-Level MSW program which is designed for students who have received an undergraduate degree for other disciplines and this requires 60 credits.
The MSW program has open enrollment fall, spring and summer terms and is offered in an accelerated evening format for both full-time and part-time students. The advanced field practicum course is required and serves as a culminating capstone, critical to successfully transition from student to social work professional. This offers the opportunity to practice advanced social work and behavioral health practice knowledge with the support and supervision of on-site supervisors and Alvernia University faculty.
Pathway 1:
Advanced Standing (33 credits)
Graduates from CSWE accredited Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) Program
Required Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)
COR 520 Ethics and Moral Leadership
Required Social Work Courses (30 credits)
SW 510 Foundations of Generalist Practice and Perspectives on Behavioral Health
SW 610 Advance SW Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
SW 615 Advance Research Methods Program Administration and Evaluation
SW 620 Advance Theories of Social Work and Addiction Practices
SW 625 Advance Social Work Practice Seminar I
SW 630 Advance Field Practicum I
SW 635 Advance Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
SW 640 Advance Policy and Community Practice
SW 645 Advance SW Practice Seminar II
SW 650 Advance Field Practicum II
Pathway 2: Entry-Level MSW (60 credits)
Post-baccalaureate with any undergraduate degree
Required Interdisciplinary Course (3 credits)
COR 520 Ethics and Moral Leadership
Required Social Work Courses (57 credits)
SW 505 Foundations in Human Behavior in the Social Environment
SW 510 Foundations of Generalist Practice and Perspectives on BH
SW 515 Foundations of Social Work Research Methods
SW 520 Foundation Generalist Practice Seminar I
SW 525 Foundation Field Practicum I
SW 530 Foundations of Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families & Groups
SW 535 Foundations of Social Welfare Policies
SW 540 Foundations of Generalist Practice Seminar II
SW 545 Foundation Field Practicum II
SW 550 Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice
SW 610 Advance Social Work Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups
SW 615 Advance Research Methods Program Administration and Evaluation
SW 620 Advance Theories of Social Work and Addiction Practices
SW 625 Advance Social Work Practice Seminar I
SW 630 Advance Field Practicum I
SW 635 Advance Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities
SW 640 Advance Policy and Community Practice
SW 645 Advance Social Work Practice Seminar II
SW 650 Advance Field Practicum II
Course Descriptions
SW 505: Foundations of Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide the theoretical and knowledge base for social work practice. Theories, assumptions, values, and ethical issues about human behavior and diversity are critically applied to social work contexts.
SW 510: Foundations of Generalist Practice and Perspectives on Behavioral Health (3 credits)
This course is designed to help students develop skills for effective social work practice in behavioral health care, including developing foundational knowledge of the study of emotions, behaviors, and biology related to mental health and addiction issues. Students will develop skills in engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation. The intersectionality of the dimensions of diversity is also considered.
SW 515: Foundations of Social Work Research Methods (3 credits)
Students gain an understanding of the use of research as a tool for professional evidence‐based practice to evaluate programs and policies. Introduction to the concepts and skills underlying a systematic approach to social work research is included. Terminology, scientific methods, values, ethics, and critical thinking will be integrated.
SW 520: Foundation Generalist Practice Seminar I (3 credits)
The focus of this course is on the application of social work knowledge, values, ethics, and skills to the practice setting. The seminar is intended to support students in their field agency experience through processing cognitive and affective reactions. This course will also enable students to begin to develop awareness of issues of diversity and oppression in direct and indirect practice contexts and activities.
SW 525: Foundation Field Practicum I (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide the opportunity for the operationalization of foundational social work skills. Students will apply social work knowledge and ethics in their practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 200 hours Fieldwork
SW 530: Foundations of SW Practice with Individuals, Families & Groups (3 credits)
This course focuses on interpersonal communication and interviewing skills essential to the helping relationship. Students learn the process of assessment including collecting and organizing information of client systems. The steps to ensure an ongoing process that links engagement and assessment to intervention and evaluation are integrated.
SW 535: Foundations of Social Welfare Policies (3 credits)
Focuses on the history, philosophy and process of social welfare policy including political and economic influences as well as the evolving role of social work. An analytical approach is used to highlight the forces that facilitate or inhibit changes in social policies. The course establishes the connection between social welfare policy and social work practice. Particular emphasis is placed on the social worker’s role in developing and implementing functional policies and programs consistent with the mission of the social work profession.
SW 540: Foundations of Generalist Practice Seminar II (3 credits)
The focus of this course is on the application of social work knowledge, values, ethics, and skills to the practice setting. The seminar is intended to support students with processing cognitive and affective reactions and integrating the field experiences. Students will be supported to further develop awareness of issues of diversity and oppression in direct and indirect practice contexts and activities.
SW 545: Foundation Field Practicum II (3 credits)
This course is designed to provide the opportunity for the operationalization of foundational social work skills. Students will apply social work knowledge and ethics in their practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The NASW Code of Ethics will serve as a guide to practice expectations.
250 hours of Fieldwork
SW 550: Diversity, Oppression and Social Justice (3 credits)
This course fosters an understanding of individual and societal biases which affect marginalized populations, including factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, culture, economic status and disability. Students will examine the role, function, and effects of oppression as it relates to social, economic and environmental justice, as well as how oppression can disrupt service delivery at micro, mezzo and macro levels.
SW 610: Advanced SW Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups (3 credits)
The course will examine common structures and skills of social work practice that includes engagement, assessment, interventions, and evaluation in multi-level practice. Knowledge and skills that facilitate behavioral health interventions that are preventative in nature and promote holistic well-being of client systems are addressed.
SW 615: Advanced Research Methods Program Administration and Evaluation (3 credits)
This course examines the integration of research in program administration and evaluation application for strategic planning and program development for human service organizations. Along with cultural context, data access and analysis skills will inform program evaluation and renewal.
SW 620: Advanced Theories of Social Work and Addiction Practices (3 credits)
This course addresses specifically the assessment and treatment of clients affected by the abuse of substances and other addictive elements. Addictions are examined from a bio-psycho-social perspective, using social work practice models and focusing on a holistic model of care. Among the topics the course covers are: the implications of different models of addictive behavior for assessment and treatment; gender, age , class, race, and cultural factors; the evidence base for particular practice modalities, including family, group, and individual treatment; the treatment needs of different client populations, including youth, dually diagnosed adults, and family members impacted by addiction; self-help and twelve-step programs; and the diversified roles of social workers.
SW 625 Advanced Social Work Practice Seminar I (3 credits)
The focus of this course is advancing the application of social work knowledge, values, ethics, and skills to the behavioral health practice setting. The seminar is intended to support students with processing cognitive and affective reactions and integrating the field experiences. Students will be supported to further develop awareness of issues of diversity and oppression in direct and indirect practice contexts and activities.
SW 630 Advanced Field Practicum I (3 credits)
This course is designed to advance opportunities for the operationalization of foundational social work skills in behavioral health settings. Students will apply social work knowledge and ethics in their practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. The NASW Code of Ethics will serve as a guide to practice expectations.
250 hours of Fieldwork
SW 635 Advanced Social Work Practice with Organizations and Communities (3 credits)
This course is designed to engage students in the examination of organizations and the global community. The problem-solving process is used with an ecological perspective to assist students in the development of advanced community practice while focusing on skill application in human service settings in the framework of ethical leadership and moral courage. Emphasis is given to facilitative and constraining effects of the social context surrounding macro practice.
SW 640 Advanced Policy and Community Practice (3 credits)
This course builds upon the concepts of social welfare policies. Through the use of human rights principles, students will learn policy analysis frameworks to plan for and develop advocacy skills that facilitate social change. This course is designed to develop macro social work practice skills in the areas of community organization, management, evaluation, policy formation and advocacy. It will explore theories, models and methods for organizing, community development with behavioral health population focus and emphasizes the empowerment of community groups.
SW 645 Advanced Social Work Practice Seminar II (3 credits)
This culminating seminar is designed to synthesize and bridge theoretical concepts to advance social work practice. Students will be supported with processing cognitive and affective reactions of the integrated fieldwork experience.
SW 650 Advanced Field Practicum II (3 credits)
Serving as a culminating capstone, this course is critical to successfully transition from student to social work professional. Advanced social work and behavioral health practice knowledge and skills are applied using evidenced-based theories and interventions. The experience enables students to practice competently, ethically, and be culturally responsive in multilevel and diverse systems. Students will make meaningful contributions to inter-professionals teams while utilizing effective supervisory skills.
200 hours of Fieldwork
Contact Admissions
610.796.5187
gradandadult@alvernia.edu
